Ski bike



M. A. ELLIOTT Aug. 23, 1949.

SKI BIKE Filed April 9, 1946 u N MN ww mu Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SKI BIKE Morris Aubrey Elliott, Baltimore, Md.

Application April 9, 1946, Serial No. 660,634

5 Claims. (o1.2s-1c) 1 This invention relates to vehicles and mor particularly to those of ski bike type for primarily gliding over snow and ice landscapes.

Devices of this nature have the general disadvantage of riding hard and on soft snow to sink deeply therein. This induces considerable friction which in turn tends to reduce their speed. The position of the center of gravity of the devices is not given much consideration, except to make sure that it falls within the area of the base when in normal position. It may be at any point of its length, also the individual centers of gravity of 'the sleds can come anywhere likewise in their length, depending on how the sleds happen to be made and on the material from which they are formed. This makes the balance of the device uncertain and its control harder to manipulate.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved ski bike that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and-limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved ski bike that will travel over snow with relative facility unimpeded by the snow, even if moderately soft, and which has its balance so distributed as to make it convenient to use and manipulate by the operator and afford greater safety to the rider..

For a better understanding of the invention and other objects thereof reference is made to the appended drawings and the following descrip tion thereof which illustrate a form of the invention by way of example, while the scope and spirit of the invention is particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a ski bike embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In this invention, the ski bike comprises a frame consisting of a straddle bar I0 of metal tubing bent arcuately for about half its length at the rear from a straight tangential section l3 that connects angularly with the front steering column II. The straddle bar [0 supports on its upper surface a relatively long sitting board l2. This board is flat and attached to the section l3 and its front end portion I4 cut semicircularly and terminating adjacent the column ll. Its rear portion l5 issquared andprojects rearwardly beyond the point where the arcuate contour meets the tangential section IS. The lower end l6 of the straddle bar is connected to the wide ski shoe ll. A connecting bar l8 of metal tubing is connected at one end close to the point where the lower end 5 meets the ski shoe H. The bar l8 has a vertically offset contour with its opposite end attached to the slanting steering column II at a point 22 substantially located above the lower hinged end portion IQ of steering post 33. The shoe I1 is of relatively flexible construction so it can bend under unusual stresses towards the rear. Its front half is mounted on the connecting bar l8 and conforms to its bent offset portion at 20. A spread T-handle 30 is provided at the upper end of the steering post 33 and is used by the operator for guiding the ski bike. A set of foot rests 2| are connected at right angles on both sides of the steering post 33 about half waybetween the hinge at I9 and the location 22.

A front flat ski-shoe 23 is oscillatable on the hinge 19 at its bracket 24 mounted at its middle. The shoe 23 is flat for the greater portion of its length but its front end portion 25 is rounded quadrantly. The shoes I! and 23 are reinforced underneath with ribs 26 and 21 respectively along their center lines for about one half the length of the respective shoes, and distributed longitudinally along them as indicated in the drawings. The shoes are made relatively wide to balance them more effectively and present a larger area over the snow on which they are intended to ride. The rear portion 28 of the shoe I1 is arcuately tapered to facilitateturning of the device on the snow.

More specifically the front ski-shoe 23 is mounted on the hinge IS an inch or so in back of its center of gravity. The purpose of this is to provide a larger supporting area ahead of the hinge. This induces a tendency in the shoe to ride higher in front than its rear. This gives the ski-shoe a continually climbing out reaction on the snow. The frontwardly curved under portion 29 of the steering post 33 and the displacement of the hinge IS with respect to the center of gravity referred to, permits a quicker balance regain in the device when riding over the snow. In'other words, the operatoris given better control of the ski-bike.

In making -a left turn, the riders body is deliberately thrown 01f balance to the left of the center of gravity. To counteract this out-ofbalance condition, the rider instinctively turns the ski to the left in order to bring the bottom between the trout zhinge pin and the center of the steering column. The front ski-shoe 23 is about one sixth longer than the rear skishoe I! because the distribution of the weight of the device with the operator on it is greater on it. The weight thrown on the front .shoe

packs the snow in front and provides more effective purchase for the shoe'fwhen turning. If the weight is thrown on the rear shoe [1 instead,

the shoe to adjustably adapt itself to the terrain on which its rides, a front ski-shoe hinged to the lower end of said steering post at an off-center portion of said front ski-shoe to permit a front-riding lifting action in this shoe in conformity with the terrain, and means for guiding said ski-bike.

2. A ski bike comprising in combination, a steering post, ,a straddle bar, a connecting bar, a front column having said barsconnected at one end in T-form thereto. a rear ski-shoe having .fittings which are attached rigidly to the con necting and straddle bars, said fittings and rear the steering of the front ski-shoe 23 would have an inappreciable turning effect on the ski bike. The rear shoe is attached to rfittings :36 which form part of :bar [8.

iIlhef-ront half of the rear ski-shoe is mounted solidly to the frame. The rear half of the rear ski-shoe .is flexible. This flexibility prevents dig-in when the front endof the :bike is rising to a high plane. A rigid rear ski will always 'digi-in. A movement such as that obtained by using a hinge .is also undesirable .on the rear ski because it would actually contribute a steering action that would be uncontrollable. If, for .instance, the ski-mobile a turn and the rear ski shoe were :permitted the free movement .of a hinge, audownward a0! upward movement would actually cause the whole rear end of the :bike to move from side to side. If the :device were in .-a deft turn and the frontof the rearski-shoe moved downward, the tendency would be for -the rear of theskiemohile to move :to :the :right. This would only :increase the difliculty of getting :it backinto balance.

The flexibility of the material .of the near skis'hoe 1.3 provides a smoothly running ski :bike. Instead of digging-in the snow, .during its :travel,

fthe-shoe ebendszupoutlof the way; An extra ,pas-

sengerior theoriginal operator can stand :on vthe wide rear ski-shoe :13 :and maintain the ibalance :Of the device effectively.

Efihe seat is long to :make it adaptable. for'yarinus types iofzusers and .positions't-hey may wish :to

take. The foot rests .are attached .to 'the'stecrin (post .andafiord convenience to coasting. The afoot rests so iocated on the steering column :as #30 permit the operator to ;steer the device :from them with his .feet, instead of ;by:the handle- While but one general form of the invention :is shown the drawings and described :in the specifications, .it is not desired to limit this iap cation -for patent to this particular form or in any other may otherwise than limited by the scope thereof, .as it is appreciated that other storms of construction could be made that would use :the same .princip nd comewithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention; what .is claimed is:

1-. A ski hike comprisin in combination, a steering .post, ;a straddle bar, 34 connecting :bar, a front column having said :bars connect-ed .atcone end in T-form thereto, a rear :sk-i-shoe having fittings which are attached rigidly to the nontin and straddle .bars. said fittings -.an.d rear ki :shoe closely .ifollowing the conto r of said connecting bar, said shoe .hawin-g anextendin P rt on flexibly arranged :to zeillow the r .gndgf ski shoe closely following the contour of said connecting bar, said shoe having an extending portion 'fiexibly arranged to allow the rear end of the shoe {to rad justably adapt itself to the terrain on which it rides, a front ski-shoe hinged to the lower end of said steering post at an offcenter portion of said front ski-shoe to permit a front-riding lifting action in this shoe in .con- *formity with the terrain, means for guiding said ski-bike, said means being operable .by the :hands and feet of the operator using the ski bike.

3. .A ski :bike comprising in combination, a

steering :post, a straddle'bar, a connecting bar, a trout column having :said ibars .connected at one end in T-form thereto, a rear ski-shoe having fittin s which are attached rigidly to the connecting .and straddle bars, .said fittings :and rear ski shoe closely following the contour .of said connecting .bar, said shoe having an extending :portion flexibly arranged to .allow the rear end :of the shoe to .adjustablyadapt itself to the terrain 20D which it rides, .a'front ski-shoe hinged to {the :lower end .of said steering :post at an off- ;center portion .of said front ski-shoe to permit a front-riding lifting action in 171118 shoe in confor-mity with the terrain, means for guiding said .ski-sbike, said means being operable by the handsand feet-of the operator using the ski bike, and means extending longitudinally on the straddle ibar for seating the operator in various locations on the :ski-bike. A .ski (bike comprising in combination, a steering :post, a straddle bar, a connecting bar, a front column having said bars connected at one end-in'T-form'thereto, ;a rear ski-shoe having fittings which .are attached rigidly to the connecting and straddle :bars, said fittings and rear ski shoe closely sfol'lowing'the contour of said connecting hamsaid shoe havingan extending'portion flexibly arranged "to allow the rear end of the shoe to adiustably adapt itself to the terrain on whichit rides, .a front ski-shoe hinged to the lower end of said steering post at an off-center portion of said front ski-shoe to permit a front riding lifting action in this shoe :in conformity with the terrain, means for guiding said ski-hike, said means being operable by the vhands and feet of the operator using .the ski bike, means extending longitudinally on the straddle bar for seating the .qperator in various locations on 'the ski bike, said straddle bar having an arcuate rear section with its front .section [extending tangentially therefrom to .said column, and the steering post cur-red forwardly to the :front ski-shoe where it attaches thereto and where the off-center point is in back of the center :of gravity :of said last mentioned shoe.

.5.;A ski bike comprising in icombination, .a steering post, a straddle bar. -.a connecting "bar, a front {column having said :barsconnected at one end .in I -form thereto, :a rear :Skiw'ShOe having nttings which are attached zrigicll-y to the connect- 5 ing and straddle bars, said fittings and rear ski shoe closely following the contour of said connecting bar, said shoe having an extending portion flexibly arranged to allow the rear end of the shoe to adjustably adapt itself to the terrain on which it rides, a front ski-shoe hinged to the lower end of said steering post at an off-center portion of said front ski-shoe to permit a frontriding lifting action in this shoe in conformity with the terrain, means for guiding said ski-bike, said means being operable by the hands and feet of the operator using the ski bike, means extending longitudinally on the straddle bar for seating the operator in various locations on the ski bike, said straddle bar having an arcuate rear section with its front section extending tangentially therefrom to said column, and the steering post curved forwardly to the front ski-shoe where it attaches thereto and where the off-center point is in back of the center of gravity of 20 6 said last mentioned shoe, the rear ski having its front portion upwardly curved and its front section rigidly connected with said connecting bar. MORRIS AUBREY ELLIOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 191,496 VanHoesen May 29, 1877 484,632 Gammeter Oct. 18, 1892 505,993 Seebick Oct. 3, 1893 1,399,643 Nagy Dec. 6, 1921 1,429,636 Rowe Sept. 19, 1922 1,551,384 Goldschmidt Aug. 25, 1925 1,809,295 Gundersen June 9, 1931 2,176,397 Flanders et al Oct. 17, 1939 

